List of Owl Breeds | eHow List of Owl Breeds Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images The owl is a bird that has often been synonymous with mystery, being interpreted as a harbinger of good luck or of doom, depending upon the culture prevailing in the region where the bird lived. Scientists from all over the world have endeavored to identify and classify these elusive animals. The number of owl breeds has kept changing over the years as new species are discovered and some have disappeared. Is There an Accurate Number of Owl Species? According to "Owls -- A Guide to the Owls of the World," by Konig, Weick and Becking, in which these birds were identified, counted and reclassified in a meticulous and exhaustive manner, the number closed at 212 species worldwide. After the book was published, between 1992 and the present, the latest news has it that five more species have been identified. This brings the total number of owl species to 217. The Families of Owls Owls belong to the zoological class of Aves, Strigiformes.

This order is subdivided into two families: the Strigidae, or typical owls, and the Tytonidae, or barn owls. The chief physical characteristics of the Strigidae family are large, rounded heads, strong hooked beaks, round facial discs of feathers, front-facing eyes, dense feather coverage, stocky bodies, camouflaging color feathers and strong feet with razor-sharp talons. Their size varies from 4.7 inches to 29.5 inches (12-75 cms tall), and they weigh from 1.4 ounces to 148 ounces (40 gms-4.2 kgs). Chief physical characteristics of the owls that belong to the Tytonidae family are long, compressed bills and long legs in comparison to their tails. In addition, the facial disk of feathers is heart-shaped, and there are no "ear" tufts. Their eyes are small and oval-shaped, and their hearing powers are superb. Research shows that owls belonging to this family can locate and catch prey based on sound alone. The middle claw looks and behaves like a "comb claw": It is serrated, and the owls use it for preening.

The color of these owls is often brown-gray on the back, with a light, contrasting belly. Their size varies from 9 inches to 22.4 inches (23 cms--57 cms), and their weight, from 6.6 ounces to 2.8 pounds (187 gms--1.3 kgs). Owls in the Strigidae Family There are 23 genera in this family, which is composed of 194 species. They live all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica. One genus, Bubo, contains species such as the American horned owls. Some other common species names in the Strigidae family of owls include the cape-eagle owl, crested owl, brown fish owl, spectacled owl, Malay fish owl, hawk owl, barking owl, bare-legged owl, spotted little owl, fearful owl and Jamaican owl, among others. More than one-third of the world's total number of owls belongs to the Otus genus of this family.

Some examples of the Otus genus owls are white-fronted scops owl, Indian scops owl, bare-legged scops owl, elegant scops owl, spotted scops owl and, striated scops owl. Owls in the Tytonidae Family There are two genera in the Tytonidae family: the Phodilus and the Tyto. Eighteen species of owls are in this family, 17 belonging to the Tyto genus and only one to the Phodilus genus. The 17 species in the Tyto genus are the greater sooty owl, lesser sooty owl, Minahassa barn owl, Taliabu masked owl, lesser masked owl, Manus masked owl, New Britain barn owl, Australian masked owl, Tasmanian masked owl, Celebes barn owl, Soumagnes grass owl, common barn owl, Andaman barn owl, ashy-faced owl, African grass owl, Eastern grass owl and Congo bay owl. The Phodilus genus has only one species -- the Oriental bay owl. The five new species have not been included in this count yet.

Eagle Owl - Pictures and facts - Birds @ thewebsiteofeverything.com Fish Eagle Owl The Eagle Owl is a large and powerful bird, smaller than the Golden Eagle but larger than the Snowy Owl. It is sometimes titled the world's largest owl, but so is the Blakiston's Fish Owl, which is slightly bigger on average. The Eagle Owl has a wingspan of up to 138–200 cm and measures 58–73 cm long. Females weigh 1.75-4.2 kg and males weigh 1.5-3.2 kg . In comparison, the common Barn Owl weighs about 500 grams . It mainly feeds on small mammals, but can kill prey up to the size of foxes and young deer , if taken by surprise. Larger prey is consumed on the ground which leaves the bird vulnerable . The Eagle Owl is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category. The Eagle Owl is a large and powerful bird, smaller than the Golden Eagle but larger than the Snowy Owl.

It is sometimes titled the world's largest owl, but so is the Blakiston's Fish Owl, which is slightly bigger on average. The Eagle Owl has a wingspan of up to 138–200 cm (55–79 in) and measures 58–73 cm (23–29 in) long. Females weigh 1.75-4.2 kg (3.9-9.4 lbs) and males weigh 1.5-3.2 kg (3.3-7 lbs). More Hunting & Food: Eagle Owls have various hunting techniques, and will take prey on the ground or in full flight. They may hunt in forests, but prefer open spaces. Eagle Owls will eat almost anything the moves - from beetles to roe deer fawns. The major part of their diet consists of mammals (Voles, rats, mice, foxes, hares etc...), but birds of all kinds are also taken, including crows, ducks, grouse, seabirds, and even other birds of prey (including other owls). More The Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, is one of the most powerful owls in the world.

It is Eagle Owlan inhabitant of Europe and Asia, and is a rarity in Great Britain. It is characterized by its very large size (26 to 28 inches long), the two tufts of feathers on its head and the large orange eyes. It is the largest of the European owls. More Indian Eagle Owl - Bubo bengalensis = Also known as Rock Eagle Owl, Bengal Eagle Owl species-Bubo-bengalensis-1 species-Bubo-bengalensis-2 species-Bubo-bengalensis-3 Description: Dark and light morphs of this bird occur. The facial disc is fulvous-brown to buffy, with a prominent blackish rim. More Eagle owl - Dictionary Definition and Overview = Eagle \Ea"gle\, n. 1. (Zol.) Any large, rapacious bird of the Falcon family, esp. of the genera Aquila and Halietus. The eagle is remarkable for strength, size, graceful figure, keenness of vision, and extraordinary flight. The most noted species are the golden eagle ({Aquila chrysatus); the imperial eagle of Europe ({A.

mogilnik or imperialis); the American bald eagle ({Halietus leucocephalus); the European sea eagle ({H. More * maxomills2nd il y a 11 mois eagle owl for the fucking﻿ win maxomills2nd il y a 11 mois * barbaartjie il y a 1 an atte geiren der nog e vogelken opzet ge moogt za﻿ :) barbaartjie il y a 1 an * TheXbox360Fan il y a 2 ans nice﻿ bird TheXbox360Fan il y a 2 ans * barbaartjie il y a 2 ans wuuu precies Torcin﻿ :D fars filmke! More northern Africa (the eagle owl, or Eurasian eagle owl) and in Africa, India, Myanmar (Burma), and the Indonesian archipelago. They typically prey on rodents. For more information on horned owl, visit Britannica.com. WordNet: horned owl - Top Home > Library > Literature & Language > WordNetNote: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words. More One of the female Eagle Owls we use in our public demos.

Although this one looks quite calm and mild mannered in this photo enjoying the sun while out on the glove during training, Eagle Owls are quite ferocious. They are also very stubborn, but they can on occasion show affection to their trainer when in a better mood. More The Eagle Owl, as may be inferred from its name, has much of the character and appearance of the former bird—the Owl in fact is merged in the Eagle. The stronghold of this fine bird appears to be the north of Europe, but it also occurs in many of the Pennine ranges of the south. It inhabits Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Lapland, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Hungary, Sardinia, France, and Spain. More eagle owl; bird of prey; birds of prey; raptor; raptors; predator; predators; wing; wings; plumage; beak; feather; feathers; talons; claws; flight; flying; fly; hunter; hunting;...

More Photron SA2 Camera - Eagle Owl in Flight = SlowMoHighSpeed 1 vidéos S'abonnerModifier l'abonnement Chargement… 284405 vues 284405 vues SlowMoHighSpeed — 27 octobre 2008 — New Photron SA-2 High Definition High Speed Camera. Shot of 'Checkers' the eagle owl, 1000fps 1920x1080 resoluti... SlowMoHighSpeed — 27 octobre 2008 — New Photron SA-2 High Definition High Speed Camera. Shot of 'Checkers' the eagle owl, 1000fps 1920x1080 resolution. Shot by SlowMo ( More Until recently, the Indian Eagle Owl was listed as a subspecies of Eurasian Eagle Owl (subspecies : Bubo bubo bengalensis). It is significantly smaller & its vocalisations & DNA are distinct, so it is now classified as a separate species. The Indian Eagle Owl is found throughout the Indian subcontinent, as far north as the Himalayas.

It is found in rocky hills & ravines, wooded scrubland & old mango orchards. More The eagle owl was raised by Mr Horne from the moment she hatched from the egg.The eagle has landed; ...an unexpected role for an escaped bird of ... More What do fraser eagle owl do in the winter? Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community: Copyrights: Animal Encyclopedia. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Copyright © 2005 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved. More The European Eagle Owl was a native of Britain until the latter part of the 19th Century and became extinct here largely as a result of man’s persecution. More √ Eurasian eagle owls are the largest owls in the world and have no real predators except electrocution, collision with traffic and shooting Adopt A Bird profiles are written and photographed by Gay Schroer. More Eagle Owl in Flight @ 1000 fps = Flixxy.com New Popular Eurasian Eagle Owl in flight at 1000 frames-per-second at Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary, England.

Bookmark and Share Turbary Woods Rescue and rehabilitation center offers a unique collection of over 90 birds of prey including eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, vultures and more unusual species. Camera: Photron SA-2 High Definition High Speed Camera at 1000fps 1920x1080 resolution. More the Eurasian eagle owl takes the prize for the largest owl in weight and mass. Eagle owls weigh in between 1600-4200g compared to the longer great gray that weighs between 700-1700g. These huge owl are found in a range that extends across Europe, North Africa, Asia and the Middle East, although they are currently endangered in many parts of Europe. They live in a variety of habitats but seem to prefer rocky landscapes.

More Here are details of the Turkmenian eagle owls we have at the sanctuary: Turkmenian eagle owls Name Sex Hatched Status Doncee Male 1991 Breeding owl Anastasia Female 1998 Breeding owl Screech Owl Sanctuary There's always something new and interesting going on at the sanctuary More The Spotted Eagle Owl is one of the smallest of the Eagle Owls. On average they weigh around one quarter of the weight of the largest of the Eagle Owl family, the Eurasian Eagle Owl. The Spotted Eagle Owl is found throughout most Africa south of the Sahara, with the exception of very dense forests. More Big Eagle Owl uses Flickr – so can you! - Flickr is a great way to stay in touch with people and explore the world. It's free and fun! Join Flickr X Big Eagle Owl's buddy icon Big Eagle Owl's photostream Pro User = CollectionsSetsGalleriesTagsPeopleMapArchivesFavoritesProfile Slideshow Guest Passes let you share your photos that aren't public. More Picture of Bubo bubo above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike license.

Original source: James Dowling-Healey Long-eared Owl - Pictures and facts - Birds @ thewebsiteofeverything.com Fish Long-eared Owl The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping of owls are the barn owls, family Tytonidae. Picture of the Long-eared Owl has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike . Original source: Long Eared OwlUploaded by snowmanradio Author: angusleonard from Chester, UKCamera location The Long-eared Owl is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category. The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus (previously: Stix otus) is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl.

The other grouping of owls are the barn owls, family Tytonidae. More The Long-eared Owl is found around the world in the Northern Hemisphere. In North America it is similar in color to the Great Horned Owl but is smaller, thinner and its chest bars have vertical cross streaks. Here you will find photos, recordings and a brief field notes section to help identify and enjoy this beautiful owl. A more in depth write up and range map can be found in its natural history page (the Biology link). More Long-eared Owl Illustration Copyright More The Long-eared Owl is a medium sized owl, 31–37 cm in length with an 86–98 cm wingspan. It has erect blackish ear-tufts, which are positioned in the center of the head. The ear-tufts are used to make the owl appear larger to other owls while perched. The female is larger in size and darker in coloration than the male. The Long-eared Owl’s brownish feathers are vertically streaked. Tarsus and toes are entirely feathered. Eye disks are also characteristic in this species. More Long-eared owls are found throughout North America, Europe, and northern Asia.

Smaller populations are also found in North and East Africa. These owls inhabit dense vegetation close to grasslands, as well as open forests, wetlands, and farmlands. Diet: Long-eared owls hunt only at night using their excellent hearing and low-light vision. More Subspecies: The Long-eared owl is spread across the Northern Hemisphere around the world. There are two recognized races in North America (one more on the Canary Islands and one more that stretches across Eurasia to the Orient). A. o. wilsonianus is found from south central and Southeast south into the U. S. to Northern Oklahoma and Virginia. A. o. tuftsi is found from Western Canada south to Northwest Baja California and east to Western Texas. More A bird of temperate forests, the Long-eared Owl roosts and nests in trees by day and hunts in open areas by night. Though widespread and relatively common in its range, it is rarely seen. More Find long-eared owl information at Animal Diversity Web Long-eared owl = Asio otus What do they look like? - Mass 220 to 435 g; avg.

327.50 g (7.74 to 15.31 oz; avg. 11.53 oz) Length 35 to 40 cm (13.78 to 15. More Long-Eared Owl Pictures, great pictures of long-eared owls in nature = Here is our collection of long-eared owl pictures. This collection is going to get larger as the weeks go by. We love long-eared owl photos and we are going to increase the number of long-eared owl pictures in this section very soon. More Long-eared owls can be told from great horned owls by the smaller size and lack of a white throat. Also, the ear tufts of a long-eared owl are almost directly above the eyes while the great horned owls ear tufts are more to the side of the head. Among the owls that occur in South Dakota, the great horned owl is the largest and most powerful owl, all other owls avoid it. The long-eared owl is no exception. More Long-eared Owls have ear openings that are very large and asymmetrically located on the side of their heads.

The left ear opening is below the line of sight, behind the facial disk and looks like an upside down comma. The right ear opening is above the line of sight, tight to the edge of the facial disk and looks like a comma. More As the American long-eared owl is now regarded as a species distinct from the European long-eared owl, it seems to me that the above name is misleading; the name American long-eared owl would be more appropriate and would indicate the distinction. Wilson and Audubon regarded the two as identical. They are evidently closely related and bear considerable resemblance to each other. More The Long-eared Owl is about crow size, the middle-sized representative of the three types of eared owls. This owl has chestnut-brown eye disks and the "ears" are set closer together than most owls . The brown heavily mottled plumage provides excellent camouflage as the owl perches next to tree trunk. Elongating itself by compressing its feathers and holding its ears straight up the owl resembles a broken branch. More long-eared owl's tufts are closer together on its head than the great horned owl's.

Yellow eyes and a prominent facial disc with white along the middle of the face and vertical barring on the chest and belly identify the long-eared owl. The bird's feet are feathered and the immature birds resemble the adults. RANGE: The long-eared owl is distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, being found in North America, Europe, and across the Soviet Union as far east as Japan. More The long-eared owl is medium-sized owl, smaller in size than a woodpigeon. It often looks long and thin, with head feathers (known as ear tufts even though they are not ears) which it raises when alarmed. It is buff-brown with darker brown streaks, and deep orange eyes. It breeds thinly across the UK with fewer birds in the south-west and Wales. More Owl, but the Long-eared Owl's ear tufts are located higher on the head. Sexes have similar plumage, but females have a darker brown and deeper tan coloring. Yellow eyes with white "eyebrows" and a black bill underlined with white stand out in a facial disc of rusty tan feathers. This facial disc is a feature common to many owl species that rely on hearing to hunt, and helps direct sound to the ear.

More The Long-Eared Owl is a medium sized owl which is approximately 35 centimeters long (around 13 inches) and weighs 8-10 ounces. It is called long eared because of the tuft of feather on its head that look like ears. They do have ears, one which is fifty percent larger than the other and is higher up on the head. This helps them to hear in a special three dimensional way, that helps them to be able to hunt better in the dark. More Long-eared Owl is plentiful in many countries of all the four quarters of the globe. In Europe it occurs in Denmark, Russia., Sweden, Norway, France, Italy, Greece, and its Islands; Turkey, Malta, Portugal, Sicily, and Spain. In Asia, in Arabia, Persia, Georgia, Palestine, Japan, China, and India, in Nepaul, Cashmere, in the low jungles near Delhi, and thence to the Punjaub. In Africa, in Egypt, Algeria, the Azores, and the Canary Islands. In this country it is generally distributed, though nowhere numerous.

More The Long-eared Owl is careless as to the situation in which its young are to be reared, and generally accommodates itself with an abandoned nest of some other bird that proves of sufficient size, whether it be high or low, in the fissure of a rock or on the ground. More The Long-eared Owl has a large range, estimated globally at 10,000,000 square kilometers. Native to Europe, Asia, and North America and introduced to Cuba, this bird prefers forest, grassland, wetland, and shrubland ecosystems. The global population of this bird is estimated at 120,000 individuals and does not show significant signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the current evaluation status of the Long-eared Owl is Least Concern. More Long-eared owls are barred and streaked with dark brown and rufous on their breasts and bellies. In flight they can be hard to tell from the closely related Short-eared owls, except by behavior and habitat.

back to top Pictures - back to top Habitat - Long-eared Owls breed in dense coniferous or broadleaved woodlands with adjacent open areas where they hunt. More A common and widespread species, the long-eared owl can be recognised by its orange eyes, prominent ear tufts, and rounded, buff or rufous facial disk (2) (4) 5). The plumage is a mixture of black, brown, grey, buff and white on the upperparts, and whitish-grey and buff, with dark brown streaking and barring on the underparts. The wings are long and rounded, with a buff patch on the upperwing and a dark crescent below. More The long-eared owl lives in forests, perching in trees where its mottled brown coloring allows it to blend into the bark. The protrusions on its head that give it its name aren't really ears, but feathers. Long-eared owls are very secretive. Identification General description: This crow-sized bird of prey has big eyes, short neck, and conspicuous tufts on the top of its head. Its round face is orange with a black-and-white outlined brownish blaze down the center.

More Long-eared Owls, sitting as immobile as if frozen, on the boughs above. In Louisiana, this method has not worked. We are surrounded by a winter sea of green-vast pine forests, augmented by live oaks, broad-leaved magnolias, and other trees that do not shed foliage in fall. In our surroundings, a searcher for Long-eared Owls does not know where to begin. One perceptive Baton Rougean, however, did not have to look far. More Picture of Asio otus above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike . Original source: MGA73bot2 Great Horned Owl, Life History, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology Slightly larger than a Red-tailed Hawk. Other Names Búsho cornudo (Spanish) Cool Facts Great Horned Owls are fierce predators that can take large prey, including raptors such as Ospreys, Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, and other owls. They also eat much smaller items such as rodents, frogs, and scorpions. When clenched, a Great Horned Owl’s strong talons require a force of 28 pounds to open.

The owls use this deadly grip to sever the spine of large prey. If you hear an agitated group of cawing American Crows, they may be mobbing a Great Horned Owl. Crows may gather from near and far and harass the owl for hours. The crows have good reason, because the Great Horned Owl is their most dangerous predator. Even though the female Great Horned Owl is larger than her mate, the male has a larger voice box and a deeper voice. Pairs often call together, with audible differences in pitch. Great Horned Owls are covered in extremely soft feathers that insulate them against the cold winter weather and help them fly very quietly in pursuit of prey. Their short, wide wings allow them to maneuver among the trees of the forest. Great Horned Owls have large eyes, pupils that open widely in the dark, and retinas containing many rod cells for excellent night vision. Their eyes don’t move in their sockets, but they can swivel their heads more than 180 degrees to look in any direction. They also have sensitive hearing, thanks in part to facial disc feathers that direct sound waves to their ears.

The oldest Great Horned Owl on record was at least 28 years old when it was found in Ohio in 2005. Habitat Open Woodland Found all across North America up to the northern tree line, Great Horned Owls usually gravitate toward secondary-growth woodlands, swamps, orchards, and agricultural areas, but they are found in a wide variety of deciduous, coniferous or mixed forests. In some areas, such as the southern Appalachians, they prefer old-growth stands. Their home range usually includes some open habitat—such as fields, wetlands, pastures, or croplands—as well as forest. In deserts, they may use cliffs or juniper for nesting. Great Horned Owls are also fairly common in wooded parks, suburban area, and even cities. Food Mammals Great Horned Owls have the most diverse diet of all North American raptors. Their prey range in size from tiny rodents and scorpions to hares, skunks, geese, and raptors.

They eat mostly mammals and birds—especially rabbits, hares, mice, and American Coots, but also many other species including voles, moles, shrews, rats, gophers, chipmunks, squirrels, woodchucks, marmots, prairie dogs, bats, skunks, house cats, porcupines, ducks, loons, mergansers, grebes, rails, owls, hawks, crows, ravens, doves, and starlings. They supplement their diet with reptiles, insects, fish, invertebrates, and sometimes carrion. Although they are usually nocturnal hunters, Great Horned Owls sometimes hunt in broad daylight. After spotting their prey from a perch, they pursue it on the wing over woodland edges, meadows, wetlands, open water, or other habitats. They may walk along the ground to stalk small prey around bushes or other obstacles. Behavior Aerial Dive Great Horned Owls roost in trees, snags, thick brush, cavities, ledges, and human-made structures. They are active mostly during the night—especially at dusk and before dawn.

When food supplies are low they may begin hunting in the evening and continue into the early morning; in winter they may hunt during daylight hours. Mated pairs are monogamous and defend their territories with vigorous hooting, especially in the winter before egg-laying and in the fall when their young leave the area. Great Horned Owls respond to intruders and other threats with bill-clapping, hisses, screams, and guttural noises, eventually spreading their wings and striking with their feet if the threat escalates. They may kill other members of their own species. Crows, ravens, songbirds, and raptors often harass Great Horned Owls with loud, incessant calls and by dive-bombing, chasing, and even pecking them. Unattended eggs and nestlings may fall prey to foxes, coyotes, raccoons, lynx, raptors, crows, and ravens. Both members of a pair may stay within the territory outside of the breeding season, but they roost separately.

status via IUCN Least Concern Great Horned Owls are common and widespread throughout much of the Americas, however populations declined throughout their range by about 33% between 1966 and 2015, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Canadian populations had even greater declines—over 2.5% per year during those years—resulting in a cumulative loss of 72%. Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population at 6 million with about 45% of in the U.S., 14% in Canada, and 7% in Mexico. The species rates an 8 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score and is not on the 2016 State of the Birds Watch List . Great Horned Owls were heavily hunted until the practice was abolished in the mid-twentieth century. Some illegal hunting continues. Northern populations rise and fall in cycles along with prey populations. The species adapts well to habitat change as long as nest sites are available. In the Pacific Northwest they have expanded into open land recently created by logging.

Because of their prowess as predators, Great Horned Owls can pose a threat to other species of concern, such as Peregrine Falcons and Spotted Owls. Owls are sometimes poisoned by pesticides and other toxic substances that have accumulated in their prey. Back to Top Credits Houston, C. S., D. G. Smith, and C. Rohner. 1998. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) . In The Birds of North America, No. 372 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America Online, Ithaca, New York. Barred Owl Barred Owl Hover over to view. Click to enlarge. Barred Owl Strigiformes Owls have an upright posture, large heads, forward-facing eyes, and strong, sharp bills with a pronounced downward curve. Most are nocturnal or semi-nocturnal. Exceptional low-light vision and keen directional hearing enable them to pinpoint the location of prey. Owls typically have extensive feathering, with feathers often extending to the tips of the toes. Cryptically colored and patterned plumage helps to camouflage them as they rest by day. Their dense, soft feathers allow them to fly silently.

The world's two owl families are both represented in Washington: Family: Strigidae Most of the world’s owls belong to this family. The differences between the two owl families are primarily structural. The facial disks and heads of typical owls are more round than those of Barn Owls, and their legs are generally shorter. Status: Maps General Description Barred Owls are medium-large owls with brown eyes and no ear-tufts. They are gray-brown in color, with light mottling on their backs. Breasts are barred horizontally and bellies vertically, with a clear demarcation between the horizontal and vertical barring. Barred Owls are slightly larger than the closely related, similar-appearing Spotted Owls. Habitat In much of the country, Barred Owls are associated with large trees in old-growth forests. In Washington, they also use mature second-growth forests. These forests may be coniferous, broad-leaved, or mixed, often with openings from logging. Barred Owls are often found in swampy areas and at elevations higher than those that support Spotted Owls. At times they inhabit city parks and low-density residential areas, especially in winter.

Behavior Barred Owls are most active at night but also call and hunt during the day. They are sit-and-wait predators, sitting quietly on a perch before swooping silently down on unsuspecting prey. Occasionally they also hunt on the wing. Barred Owls have a wide variety of vocalizations and often call back and forth with their mates. Diet Barred Owls are generalists, preying on small mammals, birds, frogs, and even large invertebrates. Nesting Barred Owls are monogamous and form long-term pair bonds. These bonds are maintained throughout the year, and pairs may defend their territories year-round, though in the eastern part of the state males often leave their territories after the breeding season. Barred Owls nest in natural tree hollows, in old hawk, squirrel and crow's nests, and in artificial nest boxes. They add little or no material to the nest. The female typically incubates 2-3 eggs for 28-33 days, while the male brings her food. Once the young hatch, the female broods for about two weeks, and the male brings food to both the female and the young.

At 4-5 weeks, the young leave the nest and venture onto nearby branches. Only then does the female also begin to feed herself and the young. Young Barred Owls begin to take short flights at 10 weeks and longer sustained flights at 12 weeks. Migration Status Barred Owls do not migrate but may wander from their nesting territories when prey is scarce, as for example when snow is deep. Young birds also disperse in fall. Conservation Status Barred Owls are widespread and common throughout most of their range. Their range expanded dramatically to the west in the second half of the 20th Century. They were first recorded in eastern Washington in 1965 and in western Washington in 1973. Breeding in western Washington was first recorded in 1975. The Barred Owl's expansion into the Spotted Owl's range has created additional challenges for this already troubled species. Barred Owls out-compete Spotted Owls, and in some instances even hybridize with them, both sources of concern. Currently, however, there are no measures to control Washington's growing population of Barred Owls.

When and Where to Find in Washington Barred Owls can be found year-round in most lowland and montane forests throughout Washington. They are believed to be most common in western Washington and on either side of the Cascades. Click here to visit this species' account and breeding-season distribution map in Sound to Sage , Seattle Audubon's on-line breeding bird atlas of Island, King, Kitsap, and Kittitas Counties. Abundance Typical Owls (Strigidae) | HBW Alive Family Strigidae Typical Owls Only subscribers have complete access to the families of the HBW Alive. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now! or sign in if you already have a membership Vertical Tabs General Large-headed nocturnal birds with strong, hooked bill, round facial disc, compact body, moderately short tail, and strong feet with sharp talons; plumage soft and cryptically coloured. Cosmopolitan. Virtually all terrestrial habitats, from Arctic to tropics; typically found from sea-level to c. 2000 m, but locally up to 4700 m. 12-75 cm. 27 genera, 222 species, 579 taxa.

39 species threatened; probably 1 of these, as well as 4 other species and 2 subspecies, extinct since 1600. Systematics With some 189 living species, Strigidae is by far the larger of the two families that form the order Strigiformes. Ranging in size from the diminutive Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) at 40 g to the immense... You are reading a trimmed version of the Systematics section. Only members are able to see the rest of the text. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now. or sign in if you already have a membership Morphological Aspects Strigids vary one-hundredfold in body mass, from the tiny Elf Owl to the massive female Eurasian Eagle-owl. Despite this tremendous variation, however, body proportions and basic morphology are rather similar throughout the family. Several distinctive features are found in almost all species.... You are reading a trimmed version of the Morphological Aspects section. Only members are able to see the rest of the text. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now.

or sign in if you already have a membership Habitat Strigids occupy virtually all of the world’s major terrestrial habitats, being absent only from extremely high elevations and treeless portions of harsh deserts such as the Sahara. They occur on every continent except Antarctica, and one species, the... You are reading a trimmed version of the Habitat section. Only members are able to see the rest of the text. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now. or sign in if you already have a membership General Habits Nocturnal owls spend the daylight hours perched quietly in concealed sites, such as amid the foliage and branches of a tree, in a recess on a cliff, or inside a cavity. Cryptic plumage serves to hide owls from... You are reading a trimmed version of the General Habits section. Only members are able to see the rest of the text. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now. or sign in if you already have a membership Voice Voice plays an important role in the lives of owls, which is not surprising for a largely nocturnal group that cannot easily communicate through visual displays.

The loud vocalizations of many species have given them their names, both common and scientific. For example, the... You are reading a trimmed version of the Voice section. Only members are able to see the rest of the text. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now. or sign in if you already have a membership Food and Feeding More is known about the food habits of owls than any other aspect of their ecology, perhaps because diet is one of the easiest facets of their biology to study. This statement might seem counterintuitive given that actual observations of foraging owls are quite scarce. Our knowledge of the... You are reading a trimmed version of the Food and Feeding section. Only members are able to see the rest of the text. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now. or sign in if you already have a membership Breeding The mating systems of birds are difficult to study, but those of the largely nocturnal owls have proved particularly challenging. Although some classic studies have been carried out, such as H. N. Southern’s work on... You are reading a trimmed version of the Breeding section. Only members are able to see the rest of the text.

To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now. or sign in if you already have a membership Movements The vast majority of owls show no patterns of movement outside their normal home ranges, other than juvenile dispersal. Fewer than 20 species, less than 10% of the Strigidae, have truly migratory populations, and in only half of these species is migration undertaken by a significant number of... You are reading a trimmed version of the Movements section. Only members are able to see the rest of the text. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now. or sign in if you already have a membership Relationship with Man Owls have held a special fascination over humans for thousands of years. With their large eyes positioned on the front of the head and, in some cases, with “ ears ” that appear to be in the right place, the strigid... You are reading a trimmed version of the Relationship with Man section. Only members are able to see the rest of the text. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now.

or sign in if you already have a membership Status and Conservation It should come as no surprise that information on the status and ecology of most strigid populations is woefully incomplete. This fact has important implications for conservation, because it is difficult to safeguard a species without a thorough understanding of its ecology. On balance, humans... You are reading a trimmed version of the Status and Conservation section. Only members are able to see the rest of the text. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now. or sign in if you already have a membership General Bibliography Only subscribers are able to see the bibliography. Login or Subscribe to access to a lot of extra features! Species list List of species of the Typical Owls (Strigidae) family. Each species provides information on taxonomy, descriptive notes, voice, habitat, food and feeding, breeding, movements, status and conservation and bibliography.

Barn Owl Nesting Hunting Habits A medium-sized white to light brown owl with heart-shaped face, long ivory to pinkish colored beak, and relatively small (compared to other owls), dark eyes Males: great variety in plumage (feather coloring), chest and belly range in color from white to buff to light brown; back is usually rusty brown with some barring and spotting Females: often darker plumage than males Young: white to pale gray or buff (similar to adults) Height: Males 38 cm (15 in), Females 38 cm (15 in) Weight: Males 475g (1.0 lbs), Females 566 g (1.2 lbs) Wingspan: Males 290-349 cm (114-137 in), Females 328-358 cm (129-141 in) Range: in North America found in parts of British Columbia, most of the U.S., and into Mexico and the Caribbean, worldwide found…?

Habitat: diverse habitats; prefers open land with some trees, roosts and nests in barns, buildings, cliffs, and trees Almost exclusively small mammals like voles, mice, and rats; occasionally birds; rarely reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods A wide range of calls during breeding: screeching, wheezing, purring, snoring, twittering, hissing, and yelping Males: typical call is a hoarse, eerie sounding hissing screech: “shreeeee, shreeeee” Females: usually lower-pitched Nest Site: usually a cavity nester; also nests in cliffs, banks, caves, buildings, nestboxes, or abandoned nests of other birds Eggs: usually 4-7 (sometimes up to 16) dull-white, elongated eggs, laid asynchronously every 2-3 days Incubation: 29-35 days Typically nocturnal; hunts mostly by low quartering flight over open habitats, occasionally from perch. Detects prey using excellent hearing and low-light vision.

Barn Owl Range Map Barn Owl Audio Barn Owl Facts Other Names: Barn Owl, Cave Owl, Death Owl, Ghost Owl, Golden Owl, Monkey-faced Owl, Night Owl, Screech Owl, Silver Owl, White Owl Family: Tytonidae Closest Relative: Common Barn Owl Conservation Status Not globally threatened; decline in many areas. Research

Question: Which family of birds, common throughout the world has the family name 'Strigidae'?
Answer: OWLS